The MREA Board of Directors will bring a proposed legislative platform of issues for 2017 to members for review and approval next week at the Annual Meeting. Funding to cover operating costs of high quality education, expanding voluntary Pre-K, and addressing the Facility Fallout with Ag2School and increased Debt Service Equalization are among the seven key issues for Greater Minnesota … Read More
Election: 33 Greater Minnesota School Districts Pose Ballot Questions
On Tuesday, 33 school districts in Greater Minnesota are hoping their communities support their ballot initiatives for operating dollars or bonds for facilities. MREA wishes them all success in their ballot initiatives. Operating Referendums The Operative Referenda questions break down as follows, according to MSBA data: 28 School Districts running Operating Referendums 19 are increases (9 are renewals) 24 … Read More
State Legislative Election: What to Expect
Thanks to new early voting laws, thousands of Minnesotans have already voted ahead of Tuesday’s election. Another 2 million or more are expected to make their ways to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots for President, Congressional seats and all 201 state legislative seats in our state House and Senate. Turnout Final turnout numbers will be interesting to track as Minnesotans … Read More
MREA Welcomes 30 New Members
Nine school districts and 21 businesses and organizations have joined the Voice for Greater Minnesota Education to help advocate for students across rural Minnesota. This brings the total number of new MREA members to 30 for the 2016-17 membership year. Join us in welcoming our new members: New School District Members Cannon Falls Public Schools Lanesboro Public Schools Long Prairie-Grey … Read More
MREA Welcomes Engelking to Board
MREA welcomes John Engelking to the Board of Directors. He fills a vacant administrator position through December 31, 2017. The MREA Board of Directors voted in favor of Engelking filling the position at the October meeting. Engelking is currently in his eighth year as superintendent of the Proctor School District, where he leads 300 employees, 125 teachers and 1,850 students. … Read More
Thirteen Members Apply for 2017 Board Vacancies
Thirteen individuals are vying for three open positions on MREA’s 2017 Board of Directors. Three of MREA’s four membership zones will each have one open position for terms effective January 1, 2017. The positions will run from 2017-2020. Candidates will be introduced at the MREA Annual Meeting on November 15, and ballots will be mailed late November to each full … Read More
International Immigration in Rural Minnesota Impacts Schools
The Minnesota State Demographic Center’s statistic that Minnesota only maintains a positive migration of 8,000 working-age residents because of an annual influx of 20,000 international migrants became evident during MREA’s statewide tour this fall with superintendents, teachers and school board members. Here are just four examples from MREA member schools: East Grand Forks Superintendent Mike Kolness called a meeting of city, … Read More
Dual Credit Focus of Nov. 5 Meeting
Minnesota parents and educators – some of whom are deeply frustrated about obstacles being created for students who want to take dual-credit courses – are meeting 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5 in St. Paul. Register to attend. The free meeting, co-sponsored by 25 education, community and business groups, will bring together people seeking ways to overcome resistance and … Read More
Springfield Students Increase ACT Scores
Springfield High School seniors who took the ACT test as juniors last spring increased their scores in all four areas of the popular U.S. college admissions test. The second time they took the test in the spring they averaged a composite score of 22.6, 2.6 points higher than the national ACT average. The ACT, originally an abbreviation of American College Testing, … Read More
Last Chance to Register for MREA Conference
MREA’s 2016 Annual Conference “Making Teaching Matter” is just three weeks away. This week is the last chance to register before procrastinator rates kick in November 1 and registrants pay a late fee when registering. Top Reasons to Register Be part of MREA’s signature annual gathering of 350 education professionals to share knowledge, gather resources, and network. Choose from more than 35 … Read More